Keyword Research

Keyword Research

Discovers, scores, and clusters keywords for SEO and GEO planning.

Quick Start

Research keywords for [topic/product/service]

What keywords is [competitor URL] ranking for that I should target?

Skill Contract

Expected output: a prioritized keyword brief plus the standard handoff summary for memory/research/.

• Reads: topic or seed keyword, target market/language, business goal, site DR, and any user-provided or tool metrics.
• Writes: a user-facing research deliverable and reusable summary.
• Promotes: durable keyword priorities, competitor facts, and pending strategy decisions to memory/hot-cache.md, memory/open-loops.md, and memory/research/.
• Done when: every shortlisted keyword carries volume + difficulty + intent (or a labeled N/A); keywords are grouped into pillar + cluster hubs; and the deliverable names at least 3 prioritized Quick Win / Growth / GEO opportunities.
• Primary next skill: competitor-analysis when the keyword set is ready for market comparison.

Handoff Summary

Emit the standard shape from skill-contract.md §Handoff Summary Format.

Data Sources

Optional integrations: ~~SEO tool, ~~search console. Without tools, ask for seed keywords, audience, goals, and any known metrics. See CONNECTORS.md.

Zero-dependency local helper (no tool needed): python3 scripts/connectors/suggest.py "<seed>" --expand harvests free keyword ideas from Google Autocomplete (⚠️ unofficial endpoint). Search volume / difficulty still needs ~~SEO tool or own Search Console data. See scripts/connectors/README.md.

Instructions

When a user requests keyword research, run eight phases and announce each as [Phase X/8: Name]:

1. Scope — clarify product, audience, business goal, DR, geography, and language. 2. Discover — seed from core, problem, solution, audience, and industry terms. 3. Variations — expand with modifiers and long-tail patterns. 4. Classify — tag by intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional). 5. Score — assign difficulty (1-100) and compute Opportunity = (Volume × Intent Value) / Difficulty, with Intent Value 1 / 1 / 2 / 3. 6. GEO-Check — flag AI-answer-friendly queries such as questions, definitions, comparisons, lists, and how-tos. 7. Cluster — group keywords into pillar + cluster topic hubs. 8. Deliver — output an Executive Summary, Quick Wins / Growth / GEO opportunities, Topic Clusters, Content Calendar, and Next Steps.

Label every metric Measured (tool/export), User-provided, or Estimated (model inference); never present an estimate as measured; if a required metric is unavailable, mark it N/A — do not invent it.

Quality bar: every recommendation includes at least one specific number. Rewrite generic advice into a concrete keyword + volume + difficulty + reason.

Reference: See references/instructions-detail.md for the full 8-phase templates, expansion patterns, intent table, difficulty tiers, opportunity matrix, GEO indicators, cluster template, actionable-vs-generic examples, and advanced usage.

Example

Example outcome: 150+ keywords analyzed, 23 high-priority opportunities, ~45K/month traffic potential across 3 focus areas. See the full sample in references/example-report.md.

Advanced Usage

Intent mapping, seasonal analysis, competitor gaps, and local keyword workflows live in references/instructions-detail.md.

Tips for Success

Start with seeds, respect intent, cluster tightly, prioritize quick wins, and review quarterly. Full notes live in references/instructions-detail.md.

Save Results

Write path: memory/research/keyword-research/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>.md; promote durable keyword priorities to memory/hot-cache.md. See Skill Contract §Save Results Template.

Reference Materials

• Instructions Detail — Workflow, scoring, cluster template, advanced usage
• Keyword Intent Taxonomy — Intent signals and content mapping
• Topic Cluster Templates — Pillar and cluster patterns
• Keyword Prioritization Framework — Scoring and prioritization rules
• Example Report — Worked sample

Next Best Skill

Primary: competitor-analysis. Also: content-gap-analysis and serp-analysis.

Keyword Research — Example Report

This is a complete example output showing the expected format for keyword research deliverables.

Prompt

User: "Research keywords for a project management software company targeting small businesses"

Example Output

# Keyword Research Report: Project Management Software

**Generated**: [current month and year]
**Target Audience**: Small business owners and teams
**Business Goal**: Software signups and trials

## Executive Summary

- Total keywords analyzed: 150+
- High-priority opportunities: 23
- Estimated traffic potential: 45,000/month
- Recommended focus areas:
  - Task management workflows
  - Team collaboration
  - Small business productivity

## Top Keyword Opportunities

### Quick Wins (Priority: Immediate)

| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty | Intent | Score |
|---------|--------|------------|--------|-------|
| project management for small teams | 1,200 | 28 | Commercial | 92 |
| simple task management software | 890 | 25 | Commercial | 89 |
| best free project management tool | 2,400 | 35 | Commercial | 85 |
| how to manage remote team projects | 720 | 22 | Informational | 82 |
| project tracking spreadsheet alternative | 480 | 18 | Commercial | 80 |

### Growth Keywords (Priority: 3-6 months)

| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty | Intent | Score |
|---------|--------|------------|--------|-------|
| project management software | 18,000 | 72 | Commercial | 65 |
| best project management tools [current year] | 8,500 | 65 | Commercial | 62 |
| project management app | 12,000 | 68 | Commercial | 58 |

### GEO Opportunities (AI-citation potential)

| Keyword | Type | AI Potential | Recommended Format |
|---------|------|--------------|-------------------|
| what is project management | Definition | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Clear definition + methodology |
| agile vs waterfall | Comparison | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Side-by-side comparison table |
| project management methodologies | List | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Comprehensive list with pros/cons |
| how to create a project plan | How-to | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Step-by-step guide |
| project management best practices | List | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Numbered best practices |

## Topic Clusters

### Cluster 1: Project Management Fundamentals

**Pillar**: "Complete Guide to Project Management" (8,500 volume)

Cluster articles:
1. What is project management? (2,200 volume)
2. Project management methodologies explained (1,800 volume)
3. How to create a project plan (1,400 volume)
4. Project management best practices (1,200 volume)
5. Project management roles and responsibilities (890 volume)

### Cluster 2: Team Collaboration

**Pillar**: "Team Collaboration Tools Guide" (4,200 volume)

Cluster articles:
1. How to improve team communication (1,600 volume)
2. Remote team management tips (1,400 volume)
3. Best practices for distributed teams (920 volume)
4. Team productivity tools comparison (780 volume)

## Content Calendar Recommendations

| Month | Content | Target Keyword | Type |
|-------|---------|----------------|------|
| Week 1 | Simple Task Management Guide | simple task management software | Blog + Demo |
| Week 2 | Project Management for Small Teams | project management for small teams | Pillar Page |
| Week 3 | Agile vs Waterfall: Complete Comparison | agile vs waterfall | Comparison |
| Week 4 | Free PM Tools Roundup | best free project management tool | Listicle |

## Next Steps

1. **Immediate**: Create landing pages for top 5 quick-win keywords
2. **Week 1-2**: Write pillar content for "Project Management Fundamentals"
3. **Week 3-4**: Build out cluster content with internal linking
4. **Ongoing**: Track rankings and adjust strategy based on performance

Keyword Research — Detailed Instructions

Compact workflow, scoring rules, and delivery templates for the Keyword Research skill.

At the start of each phase, announce **[Phase X/8: Name]**.

Phase 1/8: Scope

Confirm the topic, audience, business goal, domain strength, geography, and language.

Phase 2/8: Discover

Start from:

• Core product and service terms
• Problem-focused keywords
• Solution-focused keywords
• Audience-specific language
• Industry terminology

Phase 3/8: Variations

## Keyword Expansion Patterns

### Modifiers
- Best [keyword]
- Top [keyword]
- [keyword] for [audience]
- [keyword] [year]
- How to [keyword]
- What is [keyword]
- [keyword] vs [alternative]
- [keyword] examples
- [keyword] tools

### Long-tail Variations
- [keyword] for beginners
- [keyword] for small business
- Free [keyword]
- [keyword] software/tool/service
- [keyword] template
- [keyword] checklist
- [keyword] guide

Phase 4/8: Classify

Phase 5/8: Score

Difficulty bands:

• Low (1-39): weak competitors, thin content, or long-tail intent
• Medium (40-69): mixed authority landscape and moderate link/content bar
• High (70-100): major brands, heavy backlink requirements, ad-heavy SERPs

Opportunity formula:

Opportunity = (Volume × Intent Value) / Difficulty

Intent values:

• Informational = 1
• Navigational = 1
• Commercial = 2
• Transactional = 3

Phase 6/8: GEO-Check

Flag keywords with high AI-answer overlap:

• Questions, definitions, comparisons, lists, and how-to queries
• Queries that can be answered concisely or with structured facts
• Well-documented topics with low to medium commercial friction

Phase 7/8: Cluster

## Topic Cluster: [Main Topic]

**Pillar Content**: [Primary keyword]
- Search volume: [X]
- Difficulty: [X]
- Content type: [Guide / landing / comparison]

**Cluster Content**:
- [Secondary keyword] — Volume [X], Difficulty [X], links to [pillar]
- [Secondary keyword] — Volume [X], Difficulty [X], links to [pillar + related cluster]

Phase 8/8: Deliver

Report sections:

• Executive Summary
• Top Opportunities: Quick Wins / Growth / GEO
• Topic Clusters
• Content Calendar
• Next Steps

Quality bar: every recommendation includes at least one specific number.

Reference: See references/example-report.md for the full report template and example.

Advanced Usage

• Intent Mapping: Map all keywords for [topic] by search intent and funnel stage
• Seasonal Analysis: Identify seasonal keyword trends for [industry]
• Competitor Gap: What keywords do [competitor 1], [competitor 2] rank for that I'm missing?
• Local Keywords: Research local keywords for [business type] in [city/region]

Tips for Success

Start from strong seeds, respect intent, cluster tightly, include GEO candidates, and refresh the research quarterly.

Keyword Intent Taxonomy

Classify each keyword by 4 primary intent types, then map it to content format, funnel stage, CTA, and conversion expectation. Verify final intent against the live SERP when available.

Primary Intent Matrix

Sub-Category Examples

Funnel Mapping

Mixed Intent Handling

Mixed-intent rule: answer the dominant question first, bridge to secondary intent naturally, mirror the SERP format, and segment CTAs by reader readiness.

Classification Process

1. Read the query literally: what is the user trying to do? 2. Match signal words to the intent matrix. 3. Check the live SERP when possible; treat it as ground truth. 4. Pick the primary intent and sub-category. 5. Note any secondary intent. 6. Choose content format and target depth. 7. Map funnel stage and CTA. 8. Set conversion expectation.

Common Mistakes

Keyword Prioritization Framework

Systematic scoring methodology for ranking keywords by strategic value.

Relationship to Opportunity Score

Which score to use: Use the Priority Score (below) for initial keyword triage and shortlisting. Use the Opportunity Score (Step 6 in the main workflow) for final content calendar prioritization.

Priority Scoring Matrix

Score each keyword 1-5, then calculate weighted total:

Priority Score = Sum(Factor Weight x Score) / 5

Priority Categories

Seasonal Keyword Patterns

Topic Cluster Templates

Planning worksheet and measurement framework for building topic clusters without overproducing thin cluster pages.

Pillar Viability

Proceed when most are true:

• 8-12 viable subtopics exist.
• Combined cluster volume is greater than 5,000/month or strategically important despite lower volume.
• Topic is directly tied to product/service expertise.
• You can add original expertise, data, examples, or tooling.
• Competitors have not already built an unbeatable cluster.

Subtopic Map

Intent legend: I informational, N navigational, C commercial, T transactional.

Architecture Patterns

Internal Linking Rules

Build Sequence

Anti-Patterns

Measurement

Health score = average dimension score. Below 3.0 = at risk; below 2.0 = strategic review.